What is an example of a summative assessment?

A summative assessment serves the purpose of evaluating student learning at the conclusion of an instructional unit by comparing it against some standard or benchmark. It is typically used to determine what students have learned and to measure their understanding after a certain period of study, often resulting in a final grade or score.

An end-of-term final exam is a prime example of a summative assessment because it aggregates the knowledge and skills that students have acquired throughout the entire term. This exam assesses their cumulative understanding of the material covered and often encapsulates various formats of questions to gauge grasp of multiple topics.

In contrast, the other options listed focus more on ongoing evaluation or participation, rather than a comprehensive review at the end of a learning period. For instance, a weekly quiz assesses understanding incrementally, while class participation grades reflect engagement in real-time rather than a summarized outcome of learning. Continuous classwork observation provides immediate feedback for improvement but does not measure overall achievement at a definitive endpoint like a final exam does. Therefore, the final exam distinctly fits the definition of summative assessment due to its positioning at the end of the learning cycle and its role in certifying knowledge acquisition.